Tia
All I can say is that you are very lucky to have a doctor who is treating by symptoms! Most doctors will only go by blood tests, the TSH test for thyroid, which frequently lets hypothyroidism go untreated. Also, they only use T4 only meds which is useless for mercury toxic people.
What dose of Armour are you taking? I wouldn't worry about doubling it if you are still on a low dose. Full replacement dose is somewhere between 2-5 grains - some people take more. You should take the dose that you feel good at - if you don';t feel good, you haven't found the right dose, or it's something else. It also helps to keep an eye on things by measuring your serum Free T3 and T4 levels. These should both be towards the top of the range. Mine are very much at the bottom of the range on two grains, so I have a way to go.
The thing to worry about when increasing thyroid is your adrenals, because your adrenals have to work very hard to use the thyroid hormone, and mercury toxic people normally have weak adrenals. This is where many people end up on additional cortisol - HC or Pred - to help the adrenals use the thyroid hormone, and make dose increases possible. Otherwise you just get 'stuck' at a low dose of thyroid and low cortisol, and you never get better, or at least, it will take much longer until all the mercury is out and the endocrine system can recover, IF it recovers properly.
Don't be freaked out by taking steroids. The key to taking HC or Pred is to take a physiological dose - ie a dose that the adrenals would produce themselves were they able. You are only replacing what the body can't. A physiological dose is between 20-30mg of HC, or 5-7.5mg of Pred. It is when you take much more than this that the adrenals become suppressed (sometimes permanently), and you develop Cushings. Doctors used to and still do prescribe high doses of HC or Pred to reduce inflammation, without being aware of the knock-on effect on the adrenals. Another reason to research the issue yourself and self-treat.
I don't enjoy being on steroids, but then I don't enjoy being mercury toxic either. Needs must. At Christmas time last year I was bedridden for weeks, and housebound for months because my adrenals crashed due to taking T4 only meds (THANKS doc). I have three young children and simply can't afford to be out of action. This way I can largely function, and I am much better than I was. Treating the thryoid / adrenals, getting aggressive with the candida, but still not chelating on any regular schedule. I'll see what happens at the six month 'hump'.
You might find this table useful for determining what are thyroid / adrenal symptoms. I am sure you are on the right track with Armour treatment.
http://www.drrind.com/scorecardmatrix.asplet me know how you go.
Best
Nicola
